In a life of suffering, peace becomes an elusive shelter in a perilous storm. It flickers in flashes of lightning, echoes in crashes of thunder. It whispers in wailing winds and teases in raging tides. It never stays long and leads the tormented on a seemingly endless quest to secure it.
Javen Andrews only survives if he maintains his invisibility.
Brought up in a family intent on hurting him, Javen does his best to avoid contact. But how can he stay in the shadows when someone else is at risk? When his presence is discovered, his father seizes the opportunity to use him for his own devices.
Kidnapped from the ocean, the feisty young mermaid doesn’t need anyone. She can get herself back home. She certainly has no use for a worthless boy who can’t even look his family in the eye—unless she can use him for her own gain.
A puppet. A pawn. But what if Javen is meant to be something more?
The Mermaid
They abducted me from my home in the Pacific Ocean, and now they have the audacity to inform me that they own me? I do not belong to anyone—and I certainly won’t be putting on shows for their pathetic race! I’ll find a way to escape. When I return home, humans will regret the day they again meddled with metavasi!
Javen Andrews
What’s going to happen to her? The mermaid doesn’t understand how ruthless my family is. If she keeps resisting them—even taunting them!—they’re going to strike back. I can’t let them hurt her, but what can I do? I’m just a surfer. I don’t know anything about girls, let alone mermaids. But if I sit back and do nothing, who will help her?
Wesley Andrews
They think they can play me. Javen thinks he’s helping the mermaid, and the mermaid thinks she’s using the boy. But they’re both wrong. In time, they’ll understand why I insisted they spend time together. Only once it’s too late will they realize they can’t beat the chess master.
Eddie Andrews
I found her. I brought her to land. But Javen is the water-whisperer, so everyone hast to think the mermaid belongs to him. Well, I’m okay with that, because Javen will fight against it, and when Javen fights, I get to make him obey.
Larissa Andrew
Stupid mermaid! All anyone wants to talk about now is her! And stupid Javen! He is totally blind to the fame he could claim if he just got his head out of “doing the right thing” all the time! When is he going to open his eyes and see all the opportunities he’s missing? At this rate, he’s never going to even get a date, let alone be popular! He’s ruining our family image! I hate him, I hate him, I hate him!
